The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has held an emergency meeting of its technical committee on mosquito control to review ongoing activities and determine future strategies to combat dengue ahead of the upcoming monsoon season.
The meeting was held on Monday morning at the Gulshan Nagar Bhaban, chaired by DNCC Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, with Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan present as chief guest.
Speaking at the meeting, DNCC Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan said the combined use of different insecticides will be tested in multiple laboratories, and decisions will be made based on the test results. He also announced special campaigns to raise public awareness about mosquito control.
Vice-Chancellor of Kurigram Agricultural University Professor Md Rashedul Islam warned that there is a risk of dengue increasing during the upcoming monsoon season, making effective preparation urgently needed.
He noted that while Temephos is currently being used in larvicide activities, resistance to the insecticide has developed in countries such as Brazil and the Philippines. He emphasised biological control systems and recommended conducting tests in at least five different locations before taking further steps.
Entomologist Professor Kabirul Bashar informed the meeting that among three insecticides tested – Novaluron, Malathion, and Temephos – Malathion has shown relatively more effective results. He also suggested considering BTI as an alternative.
Professor Bashar noted that fogging activities often do not yield desired results and recommended gradually reducing reliance on the method due to its limited effectiveness.
Public health expert Professor Benjir Ahmed stressed that utmost importance must be given to destroying mosquito breeding grounds and called for further strengthening waste management activities.
